Ribbon mechanism for recording apparatus



Au'g. 9, 1938. l A; RUTTIMAN 2,126,347

i RIBBON MECHANISM FOR RECORDINGAPPARATUS Filed NOV. l2, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet l ug- 9, 1938. A. RUTTIMAN 2,126,347

RIBBON MEGHANISM FOR RECORDING APPARATUS Filed Nov. l2, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 9, 1938.

A. RUTTIMAN RIBBON MECHANISM FOR RECORDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3Filed Nov. l2, 1936 Aug. 9, 1938.4 A. RUTTIMAN 2,126,347

RIBBON MECHANISM FOR RECORDING APPARATUS Filed Nov. l2, 1956 4Sheets-Sheet 4 @auf/1' y@ WM- ciau,...

Patented Aug. 9, 1938 RIBBON MECHANISM FOR RECORDING APPARATUS` AlfredRuttiman, Gardner, Mass., assignor to Simplex Time Recorder Co.,Gardner, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application November 12,1936, Serial No. 110,481

12 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for making records by stamping animpression through an inked ribbon. While capable of generalapplication, the invention is particularly designed 5 for use inconnection with time stamp apparatus and is so shown in thisapplication.

It is the general object of my invention to provide improved mechanismfor feeding the ribbon at each operation of the time stamp, andparticularly for automatically reversing the ribbon feed when the travelof the ribbon in a given direction is nearly completed.

More specifically, I provide feeding and reversing mechanisms which areboth operated directly from the impression or hammer mechanism of thetime stamp, and I so construct the reversing mechanismthat` no extrastrain is the ribbon at the time of reversal.

My invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of partswhich will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out inthe appended claims.

A preferred form of the inventiony and certain modifications thereof areshown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a timestamp, partly in section and having my improved ribbon mechanismsupplied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the ribbon mechanism with the casing or coverremoved;

Fig. 3 is a partial end elevation, looking in the direction of the arrow3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of certain parts, look-I ing in the directionof the arrow 4 in Fig. 2; 5 Fig. 5 is a side elevation of an operatinglever; Fig. 6 is a plan View thereof, looking in the direction of thearrow E in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional front elevation, taken along the line 1--1 in Fig.4;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing a modified friction device;

Fig. 9 isa plan view of certain feed reversing devices; Fig. 10 is aside elevation thereof, looking in the :directionof the arrow I in Fig.9;

Fig. 11 is aA view similar to Fig. 10 but showing additional parts andindicating the method of reversal; NFig 12 is a partial sectional sideelevation showing`fm`odied operating connections; p "Figi 13 isasectional side elevation of a modified 'form `of ribbon mechanismfand aFig 14`s a, sectional side'v elevation of an addi- "tionalmodification.4 ,4

,,Reerringparticularly to Figs. 1 to 11, I have placed on (Cl. 19T-161)shown a preferred form of my invention embodied in a timestampcomprising a base 20 (Fig. 1) in which an impression plate or hammer 2|is secured to the upper end of a solenoid plunger 22 movable verticallyby a solenoid coil 23.

The machine is manually set in operation by pressing rearward a pushplate 24 pivoted at 25 near the front of the machine. The push plate 24carries a stud 26 which engages a lever 21 having a latch 28 pivotedthereto near its upper end. A shoulder 29 on the latch engages a plate30 secured to the upper end of a spring arm 3l but insulated therefrom.

The arm 3i is connected to one line Wire L and is provided with acontact 32 which engages a fixed contact 33 when the spring arm 3i ispushed rearward. The contact 33 is connected through a wire 34 to oneend of the solenoid coil 23, the other end being connected to a secondline wire L. When the push plate 24 is moved rearward, the circuit iscompleted through the solenoid and the impression plate4 or hammer 2i ismoved forcibly upward to make the impression.

As the hammer moves upward, an offset plate 35 carried thereby engagesthe end 36 of the latch 28 and releases the spring arm 3l, thus breakingthe circuit.

The type wheels or other devices from which the impression is made aremounted in an upper casing portion 3l, pivoted at 38 to the base 20 andnormally secured in fixed operative position by fastening devices notshown.

The parts thus far described are of the usual commercial constructionand in themselves form no -part of my present invention.

My improved ribbon feed mechanism is mounted on brackets 40 and 4l(Figs. 1 and 4) secured to the top of the base portion 20. Front andrear ribbon spools S and S are pivoted in openings in the rear bracket4I, and the front ends of the spools are inserted in sockets 42 indriving studs 43 and have a 'tongue and slot connection therewith, asclearly indicated in Fig. 7. Each stud 43 is rotatable in a bearingbushing 44 fixed in a bracket 4t, and each stud 43 has a ratchet wheel45 or 46 secured thereto byv its hub 4l.

Each bushing 44 is recessed to receive a spring it which causes theadjacent ends of the bushing tiland hub il to frictionaily engage, thusretarding backward movement of a ribbon spool after a feeding advancemovement thereof.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a modiiied'construction in which an annular coilspring t is mounted in a V-shaped groove between adjacent conicalsurfaces, one of said surfaces being formed on the end jacent end of asleeve 52 fixed to the end of the stud 53 on which the ratchet wheel 45and its hub 41 are mounted. This spring 50 also exerts a frictional orretarding action and effects the same result as the spring 48.

A fiat spring 55 (Fig. 2) engages the rear ends of the spools S and Sand forces the forward ends of the spools rmly into the slotted sockets.

I will now describe the mechanism for intermittently and alternatelyadvancing the ribbon spools.

For this purpose I provide an operating lever 60 (Figs. 1 and 5) pivotedat 6I to the bracket 40 and limited in its downward movement byengagement of a recessed portion 62 (Fig. 5) with a reduced portion 63(Fig. 7) of the bushing 44.

'I'he lever 60 is also provided with an offset fiange 64 (Fig. 6) whichengages a recessed portion 65 (Fig. 4) of the bracket 40 and thus limitsupward movement of the lever. A spring 66 assisted by gravity moves thelever 60 downward.

Feed pawls 10 and 1| (Fig. 1) are pivoted at 12 and 13 to the lever 60and the upper ends of the feed pawls are yieldingly connected by atension spring 14. The lower ends of the pawls 10 and 1| alternatelyengage the ratchet wheels 45 and 46 previously described.

A lock lever 15 is pivoted at 16 on the lever 60 and is provided withoffset or locking portions 11 and 18. The feed pawls 10 and 1| areprovided with recessed portions and 8| to alternately receive the offsetlocking portions 11 and 18.

When the locking lever 15 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, theportion 18 is seated in the recessed portion 8| of the feed pawl 1 Ithus holdy ing the pawl 1I inoperative, but the offset portion 11 israised above the feed pawl 10, thus releasing the pawl 10 for feedingits associated ratchet wheel 45.

When the locking lever 15 is moved anti-clockwise to its alternativelocking position, the pawl 10 is rendered operative and the pawl 1I isreleased to feed the ratchet wheel 46.

I will now describe my improved means for automatically shifting thelocking lever 15 and thus reversing the ribbon feed.

I provide a crank shaft or lever 82 (Fig. 9) pivoted in the front andrear brackets 40 and 4| and having the crank portion 83 thereofpositioned for engagement by the roll of ribbon R `wound on the spoolS', as clearly shown in Fig.

11. A hook arm 84 is secured to the front end of the crank lever 82. Asthe roll of ribbon on the spool S' increases in diameter, the hookedupper end of the arm 84 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 11, inwhich it overlies the offset portion 11 of the locking arm 15.

On the next upward movement of the operating lever 60, the hook arm 84gives the locking lever 85 a relative anti-clockwise movement and causesthe offset portion 11 to enter the depressed portion 80 of the lever 10.This holds the lever 10 inoperative, while at the same time releasingthe lever 1I to feed the ribbon in the opposite direction.

A second crank lever 86 is similarly pivoted in the brackets 40 and 4|and is provided with a crank portion 81 to engage the ribbon R whenwound on the spool S', as indicated in Fig. 10.

The crank lever 86 has a hook arm 88 secured to its forward end and thetwo hook arms are yieldingly connected by a tension spring 89. When thespool S is lled as indicated in Fig. 10,

. the blade |01.

lof a fixed bushing 5| and the other on the adthe hook end of the arm 88will overlie the offset portion 18 of the locking lever 15 and willcause the same to swing the feed pawl 1I relatively downward to theposition shown in Fig, 1 as the operating lever 60 rises. The lever 15also locks the pawl 1I in inoperative position, at the same timereleasing the pawl 10.

The operating lever 60 is directly engaged and raised against gravityand against the tension of the spring 66 by an extension 90 at one sideof the platen or hammer 2|, so that the power for operating the ribbonfeed comes indirectly from the solenoid coil 23. It will also be notedthat the shifting of the locking lever 15 and reversal of feed isdirectly effected by the upward blow of the hammer extension 90,transmitted through the operating lever 60.

I thus provide for automatically reversing the ribbon travel when aribbon roll of predeterymined size has been formed on one or the otherof the spools S and S', and I effect this reversal on indication ofenlarged roll diameter, as given by the crank levers 82 or 86. Ientirely avoid the shifting of any parts by the pull of the ribbon,communicated through a seam or enlargement therein, as has beenheretofore commonly practiced.

My improved feeding apparatus is simple and effective in operation andis independent in its operation of the time or other mechanism fordriving the type'wheels.

VWhile I prefer to actuate the lever 60 by a direct blow from the hammerextension 90, it is sometimes desirable to take the power direct fromthe plunger 22, in which case the construction shown in Fig. 12 may beemployed. In said figure I have shown a stud 92 projecting into thenotched end of a forked lever 93 pivoted at 94 and having an arm 95connected by a link 96 to an offset portion 9 1 of an operating lever60, corresponding to the lever 60 previously described. A spring 98 actsin addition to gravity to swing the lever 60a downward.

With the construction shown in Fig. 12, upward movement of the platen 2|will cause swinging upward movement of the lever 60a, thus feeding theribbon as previously described.

In Fig. 13 I have shown a further modification of my invention in whichfeed pawls |00 and IOI are pivoted at |02 and |03 on an operating lever|04 pivoted at |05 on a supporting bracket |06.

Flat plates or knife blades |01 and |08 are mounted to rock in notches|09 and I I0 lin a plate III which is secured to the operating lever |04by spacing studs II2. g

The upper edge of the upper flat plate or knife blade |01 is received ina slot I I3 in the lower side of a link I I4 which connects the upperends of the feed pawls |00 and IOI. The lower edge of the lower blade|08 extends into a similar slot in the upper edge of a link II5, theends of which are connected to arms I I6 and I I1 which in turnareconnected to crank levers I|8 and |I9, as in the form previouslydescribed. A spring II9a connects intermediate points I2I and |22 of theblades I 01 and |08 and is movable behind the plate III. A second springIISb gives the return movement to the lever |04.

The parts are shown in Fig. 13 immediately after a ribbon shift and asthe feed to the righthand spool S is about to begin. As the ribbon rollon the spool S increases, the link II5 will be moved to the right inFig. 13 until the center line ofthe spring II9 is at the right of theplane of The blade 01 will then swing and if ia alternately engageratchet wheels dit and tt previously described, and are connected attheir upper ends by a tension spring ift.

A swivel plate i 2l` is also pivoted on the stud ift and is providedwith lugs t28 and lfd positioned for alternate engagement by toothedshift arms itt and tdi, associated With crank levers idf and whichengage the ribbon rolls. The shift arms litt and di are preferablyconnected by a spring itt.

The plate ilfl also has portions'engageable with the upper ends of thefeed pawls ift and itl!a and dit dil

rendering themalternately inoperative. .d spring iti gives the lever itsreturn movement.

When a spool is lilledas indicated at the right in Fig. ld, thecorresponding shift arm itl will swing up into the path of the lug i it.The arms itt and iti have curved upper edges which are provided with aplurality of teeth litt] to engage the lugs ift or ift.

When the operating lever ltd swings upward with the shift arm iii inposition to engage the lug ift, such upward movement will cause angularmovement of the swivel plate itl relative to the lever lfd, thusrendering the pawl ifi inoperative and releasing the pawl im.'Preferably the relative movement at each actuation accomplishes apartial shift only of the swivel plate, so that complete disengagementof one feed pawl and engagement of the other requires two or three.operations of the lever EN, thus distributing the load on successiveoperations of the solenoid and platen.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do notwish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than asset forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. Ribbon mechanism for recording apparatus comprising ribbon spoolsrotatable about spaced axes and provided with ratchet wheels. a movableoperating member, a power-actuated platen eective to move said member ina non-feeding direction only, a spring to give said member a feedingmovement only, feed pawls pivotally mounted on said member andalternately engaging said ratchet wheels, and automatic means to renderone of said pawls operative and the other pawl inoperative alternately.

2. Ribbon mechanism for recording apparatusV comprising ribbon spoolsrotatable about spaced axes and provided with ratchet Wheels, a movableoperating member, a power-actuated platen effective to move said memberin a non-feeding direction only, a spring to'give said member a feedingmovement only, feed pawls pivotally mounted on said memberandalternately engaging said ratchet wheels,` and automatic means torender one of said pawls operative and the other pawl inoperativefalternately, said latter meansk being actuated through movement of saidmember by said platen and being controlled by increase in diameter ofone ribbon spool and simultaneous decrease in diameter of the otherribbon spool.

3. Ribbon mechanism for recording apparatus comprising ribbon spoolsrotatable about spaced axes and provided with ratchety wheels, a movableoperating member, a poweractuated platen effective to movesaid member inone direction, means to move said member in the opposite direction, feedpawls pivotally mounted on said member and alternately engaging saidratchet wheels, automatic means to render one of said pawls operativeand the other pawl inoperative alternately, said latter means beingactuated through movement of said member by said platen, andribbon-controlled devices to initiate reversal of ribbon feed by saidautomatic means'.

ei. Ribbon mechanism for recording apparatus comprising ribbon spoolsrotatable about spaced axes and provided with ratchet wheels, a mov;-able operating member, a power-actuated platen effective to move saidmember in one direction,

means to move said member inthe opposite diu imember and alternatelyengaging said ratchet wheels, a loclring lever mounted on sa'id movablemember and shiftable to render one of said pawls operative and the otherinoperative alternately, and ribbon-controlled devices mounted on fixedstructure and alternately engaging with said locking member to edectshifting thereof.

6. Ribbon mechanism for recording apparatus 1 comprising ribbon spoolsrotatable about spaced axes and provided with ratchet wheels, a movableoperating member, a power-actuated platen effective to move said memberin one direction, feed pawls pivotally mounted on said member andalternately engaging said ratchet wheels, a locking lever mounted onsaid movable member and shiftable to render one of said pawls operativeand the other inoperative alternately, and ribbon-controlled devicesmounted on xed structure and alternately engaging with said lockingmember to eect shifting thereof, said 'latter devices being leachmovable toward operative position by increase in diameter of theassociated ribbon roll.

7. Ribbon mechanism for recording apparatus comprising ribbon spoolsmounted to rotate about spaced aires, feeding means for said spools,means to reverse said feeding means, power means to edect an impressionon said recording apparatus, and connections through which said powermeans actuates said reversing means on its power stroke andsimultaneously gives said feeding means an idle return movement.

8. In a ribbon mechanism, a pair of ribbon spools mounted to rotateabout spaced axes and provided with ratchet wheels, feed pawls for saidWheels, a lock lever shiftable to render either pawl operative and theother inoperative alternately, and ribbon-controlled means to effectshifting said lock lever, said ribbon-controlled means comprising a pairof toothed levers alternately engaging the lock lever, and in which apart associated with each toothed lever engages the roll of ribbon onone of said spools to detect ribbon exhaustion and initiate ribbonreversal.

9. In a ribbon mechanism, a pair of ribbon spools mounted to rotateabout spaced axes and provided with ratchet wheels, feed pawls for saidwheels. a lock lever shiftable to render either pawl operative and theother inoperative alternately, and ribbon-controlled means to effectshifting of said lock lever, said ribbon-controlled means comprising apair of toothed levers alternately engaging the lock lever, and in whicha crank lever is associated with each toothed lever and directly engagesthe roll of ribbon on one side of said spools to detect ribbonexhaustion and initiate ribbon reversal.

10. Ribbon mechanism for recording apparatus comprising ribbon spoolsrotatable about spaced axes and provided with ratchet wheels, a movableoperating member, a power-actuated platen effective to move said memberin one direction, means to move said member in the opposite direction,feed pawls pivotally mounted on said member and alternately engagingsaid ratchet wheels, and automatic means to render one of said pawlsoperative and the other pawl inoperative alternately, 'said platenhaving an extension directly engaging and lifting said movable member.

11. Ribbon mechanism for recording apparatus comprising ribbon spoolsmounted, on spaced axes and provided with ratchet Wheels, a pivotedoperating lever, feed pawls on said lever for said spools, a plateswiveled about the axis of said lever, power means to rock said plateand to thereby render said feed pawls alternately operative andinoperative, and devices controlling the movements of said swiveledplate and responsive to changes in ribbon spool diameter.

12. Ribbon mechanism for recording apparatus comprising ribbon spoolsmounted on spaced axes and provided with ratchet wheels, a pivotedoperating lever, feed pawls on said lever for said spools, a plateswiveled about the axis of said lever, and ribbon-controlled meansoperating to rock said plate by a series of cumulative partial steps andto thereby render said feed pawls alternately operative and inoperative.

ALFRED RUT'I'IMAN.

